Criminalisation of squatting: Scottish lessons?

“Squatting” has long been a criminal offence in Scotland, with the relevant legislation dating back to Trespass (Scotland) Act 1865. This chapter considers the historical origins of the criminalisation of squatting in Scotland, connecting the concerns about mobile and marginalised populations which led to the enactment of the 1865 Act to the politics of squatting and homelessness today. Through investigation of archive sources, the chapter maps the extent and circumstances of the Act’s past use by police and raises concerns about the impact of criminal penalties on today’s marginalised populations.